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RAF Display Tornado GR1/1A +4s

Warbirds, Replicas and Nostalgic photos in here please.
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F3
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Location: Rotherham

RAF Display Tornado GR1/1A +4s

Post by F3 » Sat Mar 16, 2019 11:14 am

Just in case anyone has nt seen enough Tornado pics recently I thought this maybe an opportune time to review its RAF display career which spanned the best part of three decades. Making its display debut with the RAF in 1982 after the formation of the TWCU @ RAF Honington the first display jets were from that unit (piloted by S/L Symons) but, the following year, shared the tasking with the first operational unit, co-based IX Sqn. Their CO explained in a recent Aviation News article how, to provide contrast with the TWCU display, it was decided to display their jets in full operational fit (incl underwing tanks). The following year as other squadrons worked up, Marham's 27 Sqn. began sharing the tasking and this remained the case until the Gulf War. The first specially painted display jets were fielded by the TWCU in its 45 (R) Sqn. guise in 1990 (along with 27 Sqn.'s 75th Ann. ship) and a more ambitious paint scheme graced its own 75th Anniversary jet in the '91 season. In 1993 Marham's II Sqn. shared the display tasking - the only time a GR1A represented the type. Then in 1994 the TWCU changed its numberplate to that of XV Sqn. and fielded its flagship, named MacRobert's Reply, as the display jet. Cottesmore's TTTE took over the torch for the next three years, displaying the distinctive all -black jet in their first season, and then XV Sqn. (after its move to Lossiemouth) had the monopoly for the remainder of its display career which came to an unexpected end in 2006. Notable as one of the last solo display jets was ZA469 'Spirit of Speyside' which graced the circuit for two seasons. In 2000 its two display jets rec'd special paint schemes for the squadron's 85th Ann. which somehow eluded my efforts to capture them so if anyone out there has a pic please feel free to add to the thread.
I note from the current edn. of RAF News that at the retirement of Tornado, the officer with the most flying hours on type was nav Chris Stradling who was part of the 1999 display crew. I am trying to compile a list of all the display crews but am unable to identify the last such in 2006 and so if anyone can supply please get in touch.

ImageDisplay Tornados - ZA551 TWCU '82 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageDisplay Tornados - S IX Sqn. '83 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageDisplay Tornados - GR1s 27 Sqn. '84 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageGR1 - ZA 596 45 ( R ) Sqn '89 Display jet by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Image'90 Display Ship of 45 Sqn by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Image'90 display ship in 27 Sqn 75 th Ann Ann mks by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageDisplay Tornados - 45 Sqn 75 th Ann mks '91 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageDisplay Tornados ZA553 01 27 Sqn '92 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Image'93 Display ship of 2 Sqn by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageGR1 - ZA559 '94 Display ship MacRoberts Reply of XV Sqn '94 (2) by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageDisplay Tormados - ZA560 TTTE '95 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageCottesmore - Display Tornado '97 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageDisplay Tornados - ZA321 TAB + ZA322 TAC XV Sqn. '99 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageDisplay Tornados - ZA469 Spirit of Speyside '03 (1) by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageDisplay Tornados - TG XV Sqn . '04 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageDisplay Tornados - TN XV Sqn. '05 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageDisplay Tornados - TL XV Sqn.2006 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageMr.Tornado - Nav Chris Stradling was part of the '99 Display crew by Michael Britton, on Flickr

ImageThe mighty fin 1982 - 2019 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

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paddyboy
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Re: RAF Display Tornado GR1/1A +4s

Post by paddyboy » Sat Mar 16, 2019 5:10 pm

Hi Michael :P

Too many Tonka shots :O

:thumbs: , :thumbs: , :thumbs: , :thumbs: , :thumbs: and :thumbs:

Thanks for posting ;)

Paddyboy :clap:
XH558, always the first lady in my life
Just remember, please don't tell the wife


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slogen51
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Re: RAF Display Tornado GR1/1A +4s

Post by slogen51 » Mon Mar 18, 2019 7:41 am

Excellent

You did well to get all those display Tornados

I didn't realize the TWCU went on into the '90s

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grumpy616
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Re: RAF Display Tornado GR1/1A +4s

Post by grumpy616 » Tue Mar 19, 2019 6:58 am

Wonderful pics, thanks for posting.
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Stroudy
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Re: RAF Display Tornado GR1/1A +4s

Post by Stroudy » Tue Mar 19, 2019 9:23 am

Very nice shots and bring back a lot of memories. You just cant beat a kitted out camo GR1 :)

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toom317
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Re: RAF Display Tornado GR1/1A +4s

Post by toom317 » Mon Mar 25, 2019 4:35 pm

As requested F3

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F3
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Re: RAF Display Tornado GR1/1A +4s

Post by F3 » Tue Mar 26, 2019 6:30 pm

Ta very much. Great pic which really adds value to the post.

BigWillp75
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Re: RAF Display Tornado GR1/1A +4s

Post by BigWillp75 » Mon Apr 01, 2019 2:08 pm

Some great historical shots there

Charles
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Re: RAF Display Tornado GR1/1A +4s

Post by Charles » Thu Apr 04, 2019 2:49 pm

Some excellent shots. Brings back a lot of fond memories of bygone air shows.

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